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Home My WebLink AboutSR_ERC_Report_UW_Testing_Lab_230815_FINALDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SR_ERC Report_UW Testing Lab_230815_FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT ERC Meeting Date: August 21, 2023 Project File Number: PR21-000430 Project Name: UW DLMP Testing Lab Land Use File Number: LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Project Manager: Alex Morganroth, Senior Planner Owner: B.H. 1601 Lind Avenue, LLC, PO Box 49993, Los Angeles, CA, 90049 Applicant/Contact: Ben Newton, University of Washington, Campus Box 352210, Seattle, WA, 98195 Project Location: 1601 Lind Ave SW /1602 Raymond Ave SW (APN's 3340404006, 3340404003) Project Summary: The applicant, the University of Washington, is requesting an administrative Conditional Use Permit and Environmental (SEPA) Review for a change of use from office space to laboratory facilities in one existing building and from daycare space to laboratory facilities in an adjacent existing building. The first building is located at 1601 Lind Ave SW (APN 3340404006). The first floor is currently occupied by UW medicine testing labs in a 15,240 sq. ft. space. The applicant is proposing additional medicine testing lab facilities, support offices, and amenities would occupy the remaining floors (2- 5) in the building. The testing lab will contain equipment to perform several tests on samples collected in other locations and couriered to the facility using small courier vehicles including cars and small panel trucks. The labs would employ approximately 600 to 750 full-time staff. 1601 Lind Ave SW is a 5.29-acre site within in the Commercial Office (CO) zone, Urban Design District ‘D’, and the Employment Area Comprehensive Plan land use designation. In addition to the main building, the applicant has proposed utilizing an adjacent smaller building located at 1602 Raymond Ave SW (APN 3340404003) as long-term medical testing storage facility. The site was previously occupied by a daycare and includes a 5,883 sq. ft. building, outdoor play area, and associated surface parking. Prior to utilizing the building for storage, the applicant would utilize the building as a swing/flexible space for testing and other functions that would be relocated into the larger building at 1601 Lind Ave SW after the tenant improvements are complete. 1602 Raymond Rd SW is a 1.21-acre site is located in the Commercial Office (CO) zone, Urban Design District ‘D’, and the Employment Area Comprehensive Plan land use designation. No additional square footage is proposed in either building and no vegetation is proposed for removal. According to COR Maps, a High Seismic Hazard is located on both sites and a Special Flood Hazard Area is located on the 1601 Lind Ave SW site. The applicant submitted a traffic impact analysis and an Environmental Checklist with the application. Exist. Bldg. Area SF: 199,168 Proposed New Bldg. Area (footprint): Proposed New Bldg. Area (gross): N/A N/A Site Area: 6.5 acres Total Building Area GSF: 206,730 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff Recommends that the Environmental Review Committee issue a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS). DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development UW DLMP Testing Lab Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Report of August 21, 2023 Page 2 of 5 SR_ERC Report_UW Testing Lab_230815_FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW In compliance with RCW 43.21C.240, the following environmental (SEPA) review addresses only those project impacts that are not adequately addressed under existing development standards and environmental regulations. A. Environmental Threshold Recommendation Based on analysis of probable impacts from the proposal, staff recommends that the Responsible Officials: Issue a DNS with a 14-day appeal period B. Mitigation Measures None recommended C. Exhibits Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: SEPA Checklists Exhibit 3: Plan Drawings Exhibit 4: Utility Plan Exhibit 5: Landscape Plan Exhibit 6: Hazardous Materials Management Statements Exhibit 7: Chemical Inventory Report generated by MyChem, dated September 7, 2021 Exhibit 8: Comment Letter from King County Waster Treatment Division, dated June 20, 2023 Exhibit 9: Critical Area Assessment, prepared by ICF, dated March 2023 Exhibit 10: Traffic Impact Analysis, prepared by Transportation Engineering Northwest (TENW), dated May 9, 2023 Exhibit 11: Transportation Concurrency Memo Exhibit 12: Advisory Notes D. Environmental Impacts The Proposal was circulated and reviewed by various City Departments and Divisions to determine whether the applicant has adequately identified and addressed environmental impacts anticipated to occur in conjunction with the proposed development. Staff reviewers have identified that the proposal is likely to have the following probable impacts: 1. Earth Impacts: According to COR Maps, high seismic hazards are mapped on the project sites. The applicant has indicated the project would result in no new impervious surface at the 1601 Lind Ave SW site, and minor additions to impervious surfaces at the 1602 Raymond Ave SW site due to the installation of HVAC equipment and a backup generator, both requiring concrete pads. Proposed changes to both buildings are primarily interior in nature therefore a geotechnical report was not required as part of the land use application. The project would be required to demonstrate compliance with the structural design requirements in the 2018 International Building Code for sites with seismic hazards upon building permit application submittal. Therefore no specific mitigation measures are recommended. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development UW DLMP Testing Lab Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Report of August 21, 2023 Page 3 of 5 SR_ERC Report_UW Testing Lab_230815_FINAL Nexus: Not applicable. 2. Air Impacts: The majority of construction would be completed inside the two (2) structures, with the exception of minor exterior improvements on both sites including installation of exterior HVAC equipment and emergency generators as well as removal of a playground area on the 1602 Raymond Ave SW site. No increase in emissions or odors generated from the proposed tenant improvements or change of use are anticipated. The applicant has submitted an Inventory Report generated by MyChem dated September 7, 2021 listing the types and quantities of chemicals that may be stored and used on site in the testing facility (Exhibit 6). The emissions to the air resulting from the project will include the exhaust of testing chemicals through one fume hood, as well as exhausted environmental air from the lab and office spaces (Exhibit 3). There will be no on-site hazardous substance processing and handling, or hazardous waste treatment and storage (Exhibit 5). The chemicals and environmental air exhausted in the fume hoods will go through a high plume exhaust fan. All Biosafety cabinets will be outfitted with recirculation type HEPA filters. Therefore no site-specific mitigation is recommended. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not applicable. 3. Water Wetland, Streams, Lakes Impacts: A special flood hazard area (100-year flood) is mapped over most of the site. The floodplain, designated Zone AE, is defined as having a 1 percent annual chance of flooding with a determined base flood elevation of 20 feet based on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map for King County, Washington. As such, the applicant submitted a Critical Areas Assessment that includes a hydrology and floodplain analysis within the body of the report (Exhibit 9, pg 6). According to the assessment, no new impervious surface is proposed within the floodplain and the only new structures in the floodplain, two new exterior generators on a concrete slab, would be installed approximately 4.5 feet above the base flood elevation. As such, the assessment concludes the project is not anticipated to raise the base flood elevation, decrease the base flood storage volume, or affect adjacent properties. The project will be evaluated for compliance with the flood hazard area standards related to flood proofing and construction techniques capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads as part of the condition use permit application review. Therefore no site-specific mitigation is recommended. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not applicable. 4. Environmental Health a. Noise Impacts: Short term construction noise impacts generated by the proposal would be minimal because bulk of work would occur inside the existing buildings, with the exception of the playground removal. No residential uses are located within a quarter mile of the proposed work. Long-term noise sources generated by the proposal would include HVAC as well as trucks arriving and departing. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not applicable. 5. Transportation DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development UW DLMP Testing Lab Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Report of August 21, 2023 Page 4 of 5 SR_ERC Report_UW Testing Lab_230815_FINAL Impacts: Vehicular access to both sites (1601 Lind Ave SW and 1602 Raymond Ave SW) would be preliminary provided only via the existing full access driveway off of Raymond Ave SW. Other entrances on the site including one off of SW 16th St and one off of Lind Ave SW are currently blocked with bollards to limit unauthorized access, but may be utilized by the applicant in the future. A Trip Generation and Independent Transportation Impact Fee Estimate prepared by Transportation Engineering Northwest (TENW) dated May 9, 2023 (Exhibit 10) was submitted with the project materials. The assessment used a site-specific trip generation analysis to provide a forecast for the proposed laboratory uses across both sites (1601 Lind Ave SW and 1602 Raymond Ave SW). According to the memo provided, peak hour trip generation estimates 120 AM peak hour trips (8 in, 112 out) and 20 PM peak hour trips (10 in, 10 out). The project is estimated to generate 1,516 new weekday daily trips which includes three (3) shifts of employees, specimen delivery and pick-up, waste pick-up, supply delivery and miscellaneous daily trips (USPS Mail, UPS, FedEx etc). Deliveries are likely to occur using small courier vehicles including cars and small panel trucks. The report also concludes that on-site parking is sufficient for the proposed use based on the proposed reduction in the number spaces due the installation of the bike lockers and garbage enclosure . The report also includes LOS analyses conducted for future year 2025 conditions with full buildout of the proposed project during the weekday AM and PM peak hours at five (5) off-site study intersections including Lind Ave SW/SW Grady Way, Oakesdale Ave SW/SW 16th St, Raymond Ave SW/SW 16th St, Lind Ave SW/SW 16th St, Lind Ave SW/SW 19th St. Three (3) of the five (5) study intersections are expected to meet the applicable level of service (LOS) standards during the weekday AM and PM peak hours in 2025 with or without the proposed UW Medicine Testing Lab project. The other two (2)study intersections, Lind Ave SW/SW Grady Way (#1), are anticipated to operate at LOS E and F. Lind Ave SW/SW Grady Way is anticipated is to operate at LOS F during the weekday PM peak hour without and with the proposed project. Oakesdale Ave SW/SW 16th St is anticipated to operate at LOS E during the weekday AM peak hour and LOS F during the weekday PM peak hour without or with the proposed project. Improvements at these two (2) intersections are required as SEPA mitigation by a nearby project at 1905 Raymond Ave SW (LUA21-000233). Improvements required as part of the project include funding the implementation of Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique (SCOOT) at the intersections Oakesdale Ave SW/ SW Grady Way, Oakesdale Ave SW/SW 16th St, Lind Ave SW/SW Grady Way, Lind Ave SW/SW 16th St, installation of a roundabout at the intersection of the Raymond Ave SW/SW 16th St, and the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Lind Ave SW/SW 19th St. All improvements are anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023. While not required as part of the proposed project, the nearby improvements are anticipated to improve traffic operations in the immediate area, which the proposed project would benefit from. The report does not recommend any specific mitigation measures for transportation impacts. Staff concurs that no significant transportation impacts would occur as a result of the project and that the required transportation impact fee paid at the time of building permit issuance would adequately mitigate impacts to the transportation system created by the new trips. To mitigate long-term traffic impacts, the City of Renton requires payment of a traffic impact fee. The City of Renton impact fee schedule does not include a category for medical testing lab use. Therefore , the applicant included an independent transportation impact fee calculation in the report for the proposed use as allowed by RMC 4-1-190.H Independent Impact Fee Calculations. Based on the user- specific information provided by the applicant, the proposed UW Medicine Testing Lab project at 1601 Lind Ave SW and 1602 Raymond Ave SW is expected to generate a total of 20 new weekday PM peak hour vehicle trips. Based on the new weekday PM peak hour trips, preliminary estimated transportation impact fee will be calculated based on standard City factors to convert vehicle trips to person trips and $8,031.94 per person trip (current 2023 rate). Final transportation impact fees will be pai d based on the current impact fee rate at the time of building permit issuance less any applicable transportation impact fee credit. DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11 City of Renton Department of Community & Economic Development UW DLMP Testing Lab Staff Report to the Environmental Review Committee LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Report of August 21, 2023 Page 5 of 5 SR_ERC Report_UW Testing Lab_230815_FINAL The proposed project passes the City’s Transportation Concurrency test based upon the test of the citywide Transportation Plan, consideration of growth levels included in the LOS‐tested Transportation Plan and payment of an independently calculated Transportation Mitigation Fee (Exhibit 11). Increased traffic created by the development would be mitigated by payment of transportation impact fees. The transportation impact fee that is current at the time of building permi t issuance will be levied. Mitigation Measures: None recommended. Nexus: Not applicable. E. Comments of Reviewing Departments The proposal has been circulated to City Department and Division Reviewers. Where applicable, their comments have been incorporated into the text of this report and/or “Advisory Notes to Applicant.” ✓ Copies of all Review Comments are contained in the Official File and may be attached to this report. The Environmental Determination decision will become final if the decision is not appealed within the 14 -day appeal period (RCW 43.21.C.075(3); WAC 197-11-680). Environmental Determination Appeal Process: Appeals of the environmental determination must be filed in writing on or before 5:00 p.m. on September 5, 2023. Appeals must be submitted electronically to the City Clerk at cityclerk@rentonwa.gov or delivered to City Hall 1st floor Lobby Hub Monday through Friday. The appeal fee, normally due at the time an appeal is submitted, wil l be collected at a future date if your appeal is submitted electronically. The appeal submitted in person may be paid on the first floor in our Finance Department. Appeals to the Hearing Examiner are governed by RMC 4-8-110 and additional information regarding the appeal process may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, cityclerk@rentonwa.gov. DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11 CITY OF RENTON DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE EXHIBITS Project Name: UW DLMP Testing Lab Land Use File Number: LUA23-000095, ECF, CU-A Date of Meeting August 21, 2023 Staff Contact Alex Morganroth Senior Planner Project Contact/Applicant Ben Newton University of Washington Campus Box 352210, Seattle, WA, 98195 Project Location 1601 Lind Ave SW /1602 Raymond Ave SW (APN's 3340404006, 3340404003) The following exhibits are included with the ERC Report: Exhibit 1: Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report Exhibit 2: Site Plan Exhibit 3: Floor Plan, Architectural Plan Set Exhibit 4: Project Narrative Exhibit 5: Hazardous Materials Management Statement Exhibit 6: Chemical Inventory Report generated by MyChem, dated September 7, 2021 Exhibit 7: Comment Letter from Department of Ecology, dated January 27, 2022 Exhibit 8: Staff Response to Department of Ecology, dated January 27, 2022 Exhibit 9: Trip Generation and Independent Transportation Impact Fee Estimate prepared by Transportation Engineering Northwest (TENW) dated January 2, 2022 Exhibit 10: Transportation Concurrency Memo Exhibit 11: SEPA Checklist Exhibit 12: Advisory Notes DocuSign Envelope ID: 05F46813-3C21-46CD-8D74-95403BA85B11